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TRW develops new Pedestrian Protection System

TRW Automotive Holdings has developed a new Pedestrian Protection System to help address an important global safety issue that is now in production with a European auto manufacturer.

The new Pedestrian Protection System uses up to three Remote Acceleration Sensors (RAS) located in the front bumper area, these sensors continuously transmit acceleration signals to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) which analyzes the sensor data.

In the event of a collision, the system will determine if the vehicle has struck a human body (of various sizes) or another object and if a pedestrian collision is detected, the system triggers hood lifter mechanisms - located on either underside of the hood - to activate and create more space between the hood and the hard engine components to help reduce potential injury.

The new system advantages also include: sensor packaging flexibility across a wide range of vehicle applications; an electronic communication interface that works within established industry protocols, helping ensure high compatibility and reliability; and the use of TRW's proprietary X-RISA_8 pedestrian impact sensing algorithm.

TRW global electronics engineering vice president Martin Thoone said their goal is a reliable system based on proven technology for the hardware, software and control algorithms.

"TRW has been a longstanding leader in supplying crash sensors and airbag ECUs and is a recognized leader for algorithms that control airbag functions," Thoone said.

"In the Pedestrian Protection System, the RAS can be mated to a stand-alone ECU, but the more cost effective solution is to have the software integrated into an existing TRW airbag control unit."